US2006210683A1PendingUtilityA1
Party tray

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 16, 2002Filed: Apr 20, 2006Published: Sep 21, 2006
Est. expiryAug 16, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Wesley Paul Pratte
B65D 25/06B65D 81/2076Y10T428/1352Y10T428/24182B65D 81/263B65D 81/24B65D 2251/0018B65D 77/046B65D 2251/0093B65D 81/266
PatentIndex Score
Cited by
References
Claims
Abstract

A party tray includes a support tray and, on the support tray, a sealed package made up of transparent container body and a polymeric sealing sheet sealed to the rim of the container body. The sealed package contains foodstuffs, in particular respiring foodstuffs such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which rest on the sealing sheet; the sealing sheet is in turn supported by the support tray. The sealed package may include an atmosphere control member. When the party tray is on display, its contents are viewed through the single thickness of the container body.
Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method of serving a party tray, the method comprising 
 (A) providing a party tray which comprises 
 (1) a transparent container body which comprises (i) a base and (ii) partitions which extend away from the base and create compartments within the container body;  
 (2) foodstuffs in the compartments, at least some of the foodstuffs being multiple pieces of a fresh vegetable;  
 (3) a sealing sheet sealed to the container body, thus creating a sealed package (a) which contains the foodstuffs, (b) whose outer surface is defined by the container body and the sealing sheet, and (c) which includes an atmosphere control member included in the sealing sheet; and  
 (4) a support tray which is adjacent to the sealing sheet;  
   the party tray being in a display orientation in which the foodstuffs rest on the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is supported by the support tray, and the foodstuffs can be viewed through the container body; and    the support tray comprising ribs such that air can circulate between the support tray and the atmosphere control member;    (B) after step (A), turning the party tray upside down, so that the foodstuffs rest on the base of the container body;    (C) after step (B), removing the support tray;    (D) after step (C), removing the sealing sheet;    (E) after step (D), placing a serving dish over the container body;    (F) after step (E), turning the assembly prepared in step (E) upside down so that the foodstuffs are supported on the serving dish; and    (G) after step (F), removing the container body so that the foodstuffs are ready to be served from the serving dish.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the dimensions of the support tray are such that the foodstuffs can be served from the serving dish.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the serving dish used in step (G) is the support tray which was removed in step (C).  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the container body provided in step (A) comprises partitions which are removably located within the container body.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the container body comprises cavity wall partitions.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the atmosphere control member covers a window in the sealing sheet.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the container body has a depth of 1 to 4 inch and a circumference of 30 to 100 inch.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch and a circumference of 40 to 70 inch.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the support tray has a thickness of at least 0.02 inch.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the support tray has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 inch.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the support tray has a solid color.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the ribs on the support tray are discontinuous upstanding ribs.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the sealed package includes a carton of dressing in the container body, the container having a lid which is adjacent to the base of the container body.  
   
   
       31 . A method of serving a party tray, the method comprising 
 (A) providing a party tray which comprises 
 (1) a transparent container body which 
 (a) has a depth of 1 to 4 inch and a circumference of 30 to 100 inch,  
 (b) comprises (i) a base and (ii) cavity wall partitions which extend away from the base and create compartments within the container body;  
 
 (2) foodstuffs in the compartments, at least some of the foodstuffs being multiple pieces of a fresh vegetable;  
 (3) a polymeric sealing sheet sealed to the container body, thus creating a sealed package (a) which contains the foodstuffs, (b) whose outer surface is defined by the container body and the sealing sheet, and (c) which includes an atmosphere control member included in the sealing sheet; and  
 (4) a support tray which is adjacent to the sealing sheet;  
   the party tray being in a display orientation in which the foodstuffs rest on the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is supported by the support tray, and the foodstuffs can be viewed through the container body; and    the support tray comprising ribs such that air can circulate between the support tray and the atmosphere control member;    (B) after step (A), turning the party tray upside down, so that the foodstuffs rest on the base of the container body;    (C) after step (B), removing the support tray;    (D) after step (C), removing the sealing sheet;    (E) after step (D), placing a serving dish over the container body;    (F) after step (E), turning the assembly prepared in step (E) upside down so that the foodstuffs are supported on the serving dish; and    (G) after step (F), removing the container body so that the foodstuffs are ready to be served from the serving dish.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the dimensions of the support tray are such that the foodstuffs can be served from the serving dish.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the serving dish used in step (G) is the support tray which was removed in step (C).  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the atmosphere control member covers a window in the sealing sheet.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch and a circumference of 40 to 70 inch.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the support tray has a thickness of at least 0.02 inch.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the support tray has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 inch.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the support tray has a solid color.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the ribs on the support tray are discontinuous upstanding ribs.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the sealed package includes a carton of dressing in the container body, the container having a lid which is adjacent to the base of the container body.  
   
   
       42 . A method of serving a party tray, the method comprising 
 (A) providing a party tray which comprises 
 (1) a transparent container body which 
 (a) has a depth of 1 to 4 inch and a circumference of 30 to 100 inch,  
 (b) comprises (i) a base and (ii) cavity wall partitions which extend away from the base and create compartments within the container body;  
 
 (2) foodstuffs in the compartments, at least some of the foodstuffs being multiple pieces of a fresh vegetable;  
 (3) a carton of dressing in the container body, the container having a lid which is adjacent to the base of the container body.  
 (4) a polymeric sealing sheet sealed to the container body, thus creating a sealed package (a) which contains the foodstuffs and the carton of dressing, (b) whose outer surface is defined by the container body and the sealing sheet, and (c) which includes an atmosphere control member which covers a window in the sealing sheet; and  
 (5) a support tray which (i) is adjacent to the sealing sheet, (ii) has a thickness of at least 0.02 inch, and (iii) has a solid color;  
   the party tray being in a display orientation in which the foodstuffs rest on the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is supported by the support tray, and the foodstuffs can be viewed through the container body; and    the support tray comprising discontinuous upstanding ribs such that air can circulate between the support tray and the atmosphere control member;    (B) after step (A), turning the party tray upside down, so that the foodstuffs rest on the base of the container body;    (C) after step (B), removing the support tray;    (D) after step (C), removing the sealing sheet;    (E) after step (D), placing a serving dish over the container body;    (F) after step (E), turning the assembly prepared in step (E) upside down so that the foodstuffs are supported on the serving dish; and    (G) after step (F), removing the container body so that the foodstuffs are ready to be served from the serving dish; and    the dimensions of the support tray being such that, if the serving dish used in step (G) has the same dimensions as the support tray, the foodstuffs can be served from the serving dish.    
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 42  wherein the serving dish used in step (G) is the support tray which was removed in step (C).  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 42  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch.  
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 42  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch and a circumference of 40 to 70 inch.  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 42  wherein the support tray has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 inch.  
   
   
       47 . A method of serving a party tray, the method comprising 
 (A) providing a party tray which comprises 
 (1) a transparent container body which 
 (a) has a depth of 1 to 4 inch and a circumference of 30 to 100 inch,  
 (b) comprises (i) a base and (ii) partitions which are removably located within the container body, which extend away from the base and which create compartments within the container body;  
 
 (2) foodstuffs in the compartments, at least some of the foodstuffs being multiple pieces of a fresh vegetable;  
 (3) a polymeric sealing sheet sealed to the container body, thus creating a sealed package (a) which contains the foodstuffs, (b) whose outer surface is defined by the container body and the sealing sheet, and (c) which includes an atmosphere control member included in the sealing sheet; and  
 (4) a support tray which is adjacent to the sealing sheet;  
   the party tray being in a display orientation in which the foodstuffs rest on the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is supported by the support tray, and the foodstuffs can be viewed through the container body; and    the support tray comprising ribs such that air can circulate between the support tray and the atmosphere control member;    (B) after step (A), turning the party tray upside down, so that the foodstuffs rest on the base of the container body;    (C) after step (B), removing the support tray;    (D) after step (C), removing the sealing sheet;    (E) after step (D), placing a serving dish over the container body;    (F) after step (E), turning the assembly prepared in step (E) upside down so that the foodstuffs are supported on the serving dish; and    (G) after step (F), removing the container body so that the foodstuffs are ready to be served from the serving dish.    
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein the dimensions of the support tray is such that, if the serving dish used in step (G) has the same dimensions as the support tray, the foodstuffs can be served from the serving dish.  
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the serving dish used in step (G) is the support tray which was removed in step (C).  
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the atmosphere control member covers a window in the sealing sheet.  
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch.  
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch and a circumference of 40 to 70 inch.  
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the support tray has a thickness of at least 0.02 inch.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the support tray has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 inch.  
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the support tray has a solid color.  
   
   
       56 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the ribs on the support tray are discontinuous upstanding ribs.  
   
   
       57 . A method of serving a party tray, the method comprising 
 (A) providing a party tray which comprises 
 (1) a transparent container body which 
 (a) has a depth of 1 to 4 inch and a circumference of 30 to 100 inch,  
 (b) comprises (i) a base and (ii) partitions which are removably located within the container body, which extend away from the base, and which create compartments within the container body;  
 
 (2) foodstuffs in the compartments, at least some of the foodstuffs being multiple pieces of a fresh vegetable;  
 (3) a carton of dressing in the container body, the container having a lid which is adjacent to the base of the container body;  
 (4) a polymeric sealing sheet sealed to the container body, thus creating a sealed package (a) which contains the foodstuffs and the carton of dressing, (b) whose outer surface is defined by the container body and the sealing sheet, and (c) which includes an atmosphere control member which covers a window in the sealing sheet; and  
 (4) a support tray which (i) is adjacent to the sealing sheet, (ii) has a thickness of at least 0.02 inch, and (iii) has a solid color;  
   the party tray being in a display orientation in which the foodstuffs rest on the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is supported by the support tray, and the foodstuffs can be viewed through the container body; and    the support tray comprising discontinuous upstanding ribs such that air can circulate between the support tray and the atmosphere control member;    (B) after step (A), turning the party tray upside down, so that the foodstuffs rest on the base of the container body;    (C) after step (B), removing the support tray;    (D) after step (C), removing the sealing sheet;    (E) after step (D), placing a serving dish over the container body;    (F) after step (E), turning the assembly prepared in step (E) upside down so that the foodstuffs are supported on the serving dish; and    (G) after step (F), removing the container body so that the foodstuffs are ready to be served from the serving dish;    the dimensions of the support tray being such that, if the serving dish used in step (G) has the same dimensions as the support tray, the foodstuffs can be served from the serving dish.    
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the serving dish used in step (G) is the support tray which was removed in step (C).  
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch.  
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the container body has a depth of 1.25 to 2.5 inch and a circumference of 40 to 70 inch.  
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the support tray has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 inch.
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